250 ml poured into a Founders tulip. Dark brown/black and a little translucent when held up to the light. A thin head (2-5 mm) appears and dissipates rapidly with persistent clinging to the sides of the glass.

The appearance on this beer is as dark as night. There is no chance of being able to see through it in the light. When I poured this into a tulip glass, it produced a very little head. I have read past reviews saying that it had a head and wonder why mine might be different.

The aroma is very powerful. There is a big hint of alcohol with this tiny beer being at 10% ABV. I'm also getting some bready qualities mixed in with some caramel notes.

The taste on this beer is extremely thick. Right in the beginning you can taste the alcohol and that taste sits in your mouth for the aftertaste. I'm picking up on a bit of a caramel taste in this. There is also a big coffee quality as well to the taste.

Overall, this is a very powerful beer and I would advise those venturing out into the imported beers for the first time to drink with caution.

275 ml bottle into tulip glass, best before 9/19/2024. Pours nearly pitch black color with a 2-3 finger dense and fluffy tan head with incredible retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lasts. Nice soapy lacing clings around the glass. Aromas of big dark chocolate, cocoa, roasted malt, toast, light char, coffee, dark bread, and roasted earthiness. Very nice aromas with good balance and complexity of dark and roasted malt notes; with good strength. Taste of big dark chocolate, cocoa, roasted malt, toast, char, coffee, dark bread, light raisin, licorice, and roasted earthiness. Lingering notes of dark chocolate, cocoa, roasted malt, toast, char, coffee, dark bread, licorice, and roasted earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Excellent balance and complexity of dark and roasted malt flavors with light fruitiness; with big robustness and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Medium-high carbonation and fairly full bodied; with a creamy, slick, fairly chalky, and lightly prickly mouthfeel that is great. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a light warming noticed after the finish; very smooth to sip on for 10%. Overall this is a highly excellent imperial stout! Great balance and complexity of big dark/roasted malt flavors; and very smooth to sip on. A highly enjoyable offering.

Pours a pitch black color with a thin creamy tan head. Lacing clings to the glass quite well. Aromas of some oatmeal and freshly broken chocolate bar. Taste begins with a very slight hint of vinegar, then a lucious dark chocolate flavor, then some toasted bread. An herbal, resinous hoppy flavor finishes the flavor, along with some wood aged character and pine. Mouthfeel is extremely rich. Overall a superb Russian Imperial Stout. One of the best I have had.